For the competition, what Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker and navigator Syd Fisher have achieved over the past two days must be impressive, if not frightening: from last place to the top. Not through an extreme move away from the field or particularly good luck, but through very conservative, focussed and also fast sailing.
At the moment, the yellow boat is in a very promising position upwind of the others with a slight lead. The field is split up, with only Mapfre near Abu Dhabi and the remaining four much further south. Abu Dabi and Mapfre were favoured by the current. A large eddy had the effect that the current pushed the boats in the north by one to two knots, while the others had it from the front.
This was a very comfortable situation for Abu Dhabi and Mapfre - lying upwind, with a backstay breeze, plenty of room to leeward and a pushing current. "Go as fast as you can. I'm not interested in the course right now, just sail as fast as you can," was Skipper Walker's instruction to his helmsman.
With winds of over 20 knots, everyone heads north-west at almost the same speed.
Impressions of the speed rush in the trade wind
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
